DSM-Firmenich Reveals Recipients of Gut Health Research Funding
DSM-Firmenich, an ingredient supplier, has announced the allocation of €250,000 in grants to five researchers in the Asia-Pacific region. Each researcher will be awarded €50,000 to fund 18 months of study focused on enhancing the scientific knowledge surrounding gut health.
This initiative aims to fill the nutritional research void in the region’s diverse populations. The theme for this year’s grant, “health from the gut across the human lifespan,” underscores the increasing awareness of the importance of gut health for overall wellness. The company has solicited research proposals on topics such as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), probiotics, and postbiotics, with a focus on early life nutrition, adult nutrition, and healthy aging.
The recipients of the nutrition grants were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an international panel of experts in the gut microbiome field. Proposals were submitted by nine different companies from the region, with the panel selecting the five most scientifically promising projects that also align closely with this year’s theme and address significant health concerns in the region.
Anneleen Spooren, Senior Vice President of Innovation, R&D, and Regulatory at DSM-Firmenich’s Health, Nutrition, and Care business, expressed high regard for the quality and depth of the proposals. “We received applications from nine different countries across the Asia-Pacific region and consulted with two leading experts in microbiome and clinical nutrition to identify the top five projects. We look forward to collaborating with these researchers to explore how various biotics can influence the gut microbiome and enhance our understanding of the microbiome-health connection,” she said.
Tina Low, Senior Vice President of Health, Nutrition, and Care Asia-Pacific at DSM-Firmenich, emphasized the company’s dedication to science-driven solutions that promote preventive health and tackle regional challenges. “The Nutrition Research Grant is a manifestation of our commitment to ‘together elevating health’ by partnering with the scientific community to push forward gut health research that is pertinent to the distinct lifestyles and diets of the Asia-Pacific populations. It is crucial to comprehend the impact of our health-from-the-gut ingredients in this varied region to develop more customized and effective solutions across different life stages,” she stated.